Cigarette heating device

ABSTRACT

A cigarette heating device for heating a cigarette includes a main sleeve unit, a central heater, a movable element, an internal cup, and a restoring element. The main sleeve unit presets a first position and a second position along an axial direction. The movable element is movable between the first position and the second position. The internal cup is configured for receiving the cigarette. The internal cup is in linkage relation with the movable element. When the movable element is in the first position, the internal cup is adjacent to the central heater, so that the central heater heats the cigarette. When the movable element is in the second position, the internal cup is away from the central heater, so that the central heater is separated from the cigarette. The restoring element is configured for driving the movable element to restore from the second position to the first position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to electronic cigarettes, and particularly to a cigarette heating device.

BACKGROUND ART

Cigarette heating devices are configured for heating a cigarette to form aerosol. During this process, since the cigarette does not burn, a lot of cancerous material (e.g., tar) does not exist. Accordingly, the cigarette heating device is healthier for users. However, in a typical cigarette heating device, it is inconvenient to take the cigarette out after use.

What is needed, therefore, is a cigarette heating device, which can overcome the above shortcomings.

SUMMARY

A cigarette heating device for heating a cigarette includes a main sleeve unit, a central heater, a movable element, an internal cup, and a restoring element. The main sleeve unit presets a first position and a second position along an axial direction. The movable element is movable between the first position and the second position. The internal cup is configured for receiving the cigarette. The internal cup is in linkage relation with the movable element. When the movable element is in the first position, the internal cup is adjacent to the central heater, so that the central heater heats the cigarette. When the movable element is in the second position, the internal cup is away from the central heater, so that the central heater is separated from the cigarette. The restoring element is configured for driving the movable element to restore from the second position to the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cigarette heating device including a movable element when the movable element is in a first position.

FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view of the cigarette heating device of FIG. 1 when the movable element is in the first position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cigarette heating device when the movable element is in a second position, together with a cigarette.

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of the cigarette heating device of FIG. 3 when the movable element is in the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a cigarette heating device for heating a cigarette 500 is shown. The cigarette heating device includes a main sleeve unit 100, a central heater 200, a movable element 300, an internal cup 400, and a restoring element 600.

The main sleeve unit 100 presets a first position and a second position. The central heater 200 is arranged in the main sleeve unit 100. The movable element 300 is movable between the first position and the second position. The internal cup 400 is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for receiving the cigarette 500, and moves together with the movable element 300. When the movable element 300 is in the first position (as seen in FIG. 2), the internal cup 400 is adjacent to the central heater 200, so that the central heater 200 can heat the cigarette 500; when the movable element 300 is in the second position (as seen in FIG. 4), the internal cup 400 is far away from the central heater 200, so that the central heater 200 is separated from the cigarette 500. The restoring element 600 is configured for driving the movable element 300 to restore from the second position to the first position.

To take out the cigarette 500, the movable element 300 is pushed/pulled upwards, the internal cup 400 and the cigarette 500 are then separated from a heating body 220 of the central heater 200. In this way, the cigarette 500 can be taken out conveniently. After being released, the internal cup 400 is driven to the first position by the restoring element 600.

In detail, in the present embodiment, the main sleeve unit 100 includes a battery tube 110, a heater tube 120, and a top engaging ring 130.

The battery tube 110 is configured for accommodating a battery, a printed circuit board and electronic components on the circuit board. A control button 111 is provided on the battery tube 110. In the drawings, only one control button 111 is shown.

The heater tube 120 is connected with the battery tube 110, and defines a groove 121. The central heater 200 is accommodated in the heater tube 120.

The top engaging ring 130 is connected to the heater tube 120, and the top engaging ring 130 includes a first stage 131.

The battery tube 110, the heater tube 120 and the top engaging ring 130 may be coupled by snap fit, or interference fit.

In the present embodiment, the central heater 200 includes a fixing holder 210 and a heating body 220 arranged on the fixing holder 210. The fixing holder 210 is fixedly connected with the battery tube 110. The heating body 220 includes a thermal conducting body and a heating wire formed on the thermal conducting body.

When the movable element 300 is in the first position (referring to FIG. 2), the internal cup 400 is adjacent to the fixing holder 210, so that the heating body 220 inserts the internal cup 400 via an opening at a bottom of the internal cup 400. When the movable element 300 is in the second position (referring to FIG. 4), the internal cup 400 is away from the fixing holder 210, such that the heating body 220 is moved out from the opening at the bottom of the internal cup 400.

The movable element 300 is arranged outside of the main sleeve unit 100, and the main sleeve unit 100 nests the internal cup 400. The movable element 300 includes a first linkage 310 on an inner surface, the heater tube 120 defines a slot in a sidewall, and the internal cup 400 includes a second linkage 410. The first linkage 310 is engaged in the slot 121, and abuts against the second linkage 410. Alternatively, the first and the second linkages 310, 410 may be coupled by magnetic force, and the slot 121 may be omitted. That is, one of the first and the second linkages 310, 410 is a magnet, and the other of the first and the second linkages 310, 410 is a magnet or a magnetic metal.

Quite usefully, in the present embodiment, the movable element 300 is a casing nesting the heater tube 120. It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the movable element 300 may be an arc-shaped plate or a sliding piece.

The first and the second linkages 310, 410 are protrusions as shown in the drawings. It is noteworthy that, in other embodiments, the first linkage 310 may be a recess, and correspondingly, the second linkage 410 may be a long protrusion engaging in the recess. It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the second linkage 410 may be a recess, and correspondingly, the first linkage 310 may be a long protrusion engaging in the recess. Alternatively, the second linkage 410 may be a bottom surface of the internal cup 400, and the first linkage 310 may be a long protrusion extending to the bottom surface of the internal cup 400, as long as the movable element 300 forms a linkage relation with the internal cup 400.

In the present embodiment, the slot 121 extends along an axial direction of the heater tube 120, and restricting at least one of the first linkage 310 and the second linkage 410. Referring to FIG. 2, the slot 121 restricts the first position of the first linkage 310; referring to FIG. 4, the slot 121 restricts the second position of the first linkage. The slot 121 has an opening at an end, so that at least one of the first and the second linkages can be engaged in the slot 121 by interference fit.

In the present embodiment, the main sleeve unit 100 includes the first stage 131, the internal cup 400 correspondingly includes a second stage 420, the restoring element 600 includes a spring, the spring nests between the main sleeve unit 100 and the internal cup 400, and two ends of the spring abut against the first stage 131 and the second stage 420, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the second linkage 410, the second stage 420, and an outer surface of the internal cup 400 are step shaped in sequence. In other embodiments, the second linkage 410 and the second stage 420 may be coplanar.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments and methods without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cigarette heating device for heating a cigarette, comprising: a main sleeve unit presetting a first position and a second position along an axial direction thereof; a central heater arranged in the main sleeve unit; a movable element movable between the first position and the second position along the axial direction of the main sleeve unit; an internal cup configured for receiving the cigarette, the internal cup being in linkage relation with the movable element, when the movable element is in the first position, the internal cup is adjacent to the central heater, so that the central heater heats the cigarette; when the movable element is in the second position, the internal cup is away from the central heater, so that the central heater is separated from the cigarette; and a restoring element configured for driving the movable element to restore from the second position to the first position.
 2. The cigarette heating device according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is arranged outside of the main sleeve unit, the main sleeve unit nests the internal cup, the movable element comprises a first linkage on an inner surface, the internal cup has a second linkage, one of the first and the second linkages abuts against the other of the first and the second linkages via the main sleeve unit.
 3. The cigarette heating device according to claim 2, wherein the main sleeve unit defines a slot in a sidewall, the slot extends along an axial direction of the main sleeve unit, and the slot restricts at least one of the first linkage and the second linkage.
 4. The cigarette heating device according to claim 3, wherein the main sleeve unit comprises a first stage, the internal cup correspondingly comprises a second stage, the restoring element comprises a spring, the spring nests between the main sleeve unit and the internal cup, and two ends of the spring abut against the first stage and the second stage, respectively.
 5. The cigarette heating device according to claim 1, wherein the central heater comprises a fixing holder and a heating body arranged on the fixing holder; the internal cup defines an opening in a bottom thereof; when the movable element is in the first position, the internal cup is adjacent to the fixing holder, so that the heating body is inserted into the internal cup via the opening; when the movable element is in the second position, the internal cup is away from the fixing holder, so that the heating body is moved out of the internal cup via the opening.
 6. The cigarette heating device according to claim 4, wherein the main sleeve unit comprises: a battery tube; a heater tube connected with the battery tube, the slot being defined by the heater tube, the central heater being accommodated in the heater tube; and a top engaging ring connected to the heater tube, and the top engaging ring comprising a first stage.
 7. The cigarette heating device according to claim 6, wherein the slot has an opening at an end, so that at least one of the first and the second linkages is engaged in the slot by interference fit.
 8. The cigarette heating device according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and the second linkages is a protrusion.
 9. The cigarette heating device according to claim 7, wherein the second linkage, the second stage, and an outer surface of the internal cup are step shaped in sequence. 